15 Serial Killers Who Were Never Caught (Number 7 May Still Be Active)

In the dark corners of criminal history, some predators managed to evade justice completely. These are the cases that haunt law enforcement agencies decades later, the files that remain open, and the families still seeking closure.

Despite advances in forensic science, DNA technology, and criminal profiling, these 15 serial killers disappeared without a trace. Some stopped killing and blended back into society. Others may have died anonymously. And some, chillingly, may still be active today.

#15: The Phantom Killer of Texarkana (1946)

Between February and May 1946, a mysterious assailant terrorized the border towns of Texarkana, Texas and Arkansas. Known as the "Moonlight Murders," the killer struck couples in isolated locations, always during full moons or shortly thereafter.

The attacks were brutal and methodical. Five people were killed, and three others survived with severe injuries. Witnesses described a man wearing a white hood with eye holes cut out, leading to the nickname "The Phantom Killer."

Despite one of the largest investigations in Texas history, involving Texas Rangers and the FBI, the killer was never identified. The attacks suddenly stopped in May 1946, and the case remains unsolved nearly 80 years later.

Why He Was Never Caught: The limited forensic technology of the 1940s meant little physical evidence could be preserved. Multiple suspects were investigated, including a local drifter who died in 1971, but none could be definitively linked to the crimes. The killer either died, moved away, or stopped killing entirely.

Current Status: Cold case. All surviving witnesses and investigators have passed away. The case inspired the 1976 film "The Town That Dreaded Sundown."